Stephens Passage

Stephens Passage and Admiralty Island from Douglas Island

Stephens Passage is a channel in the Alexander Archipelago in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Alaska. It runs between Admiralty Island to the west and the Alaska mainland and Douglas Island to the east, and is about 170 km (105 mi) long. Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is near the north end, on Gastineau Channel.

Stephens Passage was named in 1794 by George Vancouver, probably for Sir Philip Stephens.[1] It was first charted the same year by Joseph Whidbey, master of HMS Discovery during Vancouver's 1791-95 expedition.[2] In 1920, a more detailed survey of the passage followed, by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey ship USC&GS Explorer and two smaller vessels.[3]

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Stephens Passage
  2. ^ Vancouver, George, and John Vancouver (1801). A voyage of discovery to the North Pacific ocean, and round the world. London: J. Stockdale.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Annual Report of the Director, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey to the Secretary of Commerce (Report). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1920. p. 95.